Williams, Orena Vaught

The poet Orena Williams was born in Berea, KY, the daughter of Eliza and Dock Vaught [also spelled Vaughn]. The family is listed in the 1920 U.S. Federal Census showing Eliza Vaught (b. 1878 in KY) as a widow with seven children; the family was living on Georgia Avenue in Connersville, IN. Orena was one of the younger children. 

Willams attended Lewis Business College in Indianapolis in 1932 and was later employed as a secretary and teacher. She also wrote plays and poetry, including two books of poetry: Grains of Sand in 1974 and From My Garden in 1980.

Orena Williams was the wife of Roy L. Williams of Louisville, KY. For more see The Black Women in the Middle West Project, by D. C. Hine, et al.; and the Indiana Historical Society website.